A charity bike ride, Eighter from Decatur Bike Rally, will take place in Decatur on Aug. 2.

Riders can go for 8, 25 or even 55 miles on a scenic ride through Alvord, Forrestburg and Greenwood.

The rally will begin and end at the Decatur airport. A barbecue lunch will be served free to riders and $5 for spectators.

Organizers expect about 500 participants for the second year of the annual event.

Early registration fee is $35 per rider, and all ages are welcome. Event day registration opens at 7 a.m. and the race begins at 8 a.m.

Event proceeds will go to Raquel’s Wings for Life, a nonprofit organization that provides air transport for cancer patients and their families to treatment facilities at no cost to the patient or family.

Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South wants to help keep older drivers safe on the road this summer by educating them in the safest driving practices.

The new Senior Class series of community health and safety programs at Texas Health Huguley is sponsoring the AARP Driver Safety Program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15.

Though it is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, all interested drivers are welcome.

Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Space is limited to the first 30 people who register.

The class will review current traffic laws, defensive driving techniques and how to deal with age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. Drivers will also learn the safest ways to change lanes, the proper following distance behind other cars, proper use of safety belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, new technology found in cars today and much more.

Allan Saxe, the University of Texas at Arlington’s longtime favorite associate professor of political science and a noted philanthropist, visits the Southwest Fort Worth Chapter of AARP on July 16. Saxe will offer interesting, informative and thought-provoking insights into the world as he sees it.

The meeting will be at Genesis United Methodist Church, 7635 S. Hulen St. Coffee is at 10 a.m., the program begins at 10:30 a.m.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is working to make summer fun in the water safer for North Texas families by organizing its first-ever life jacket drive.

The donated life jackets will be distributed to two collaborating water safety programs, the Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition and the Rancho Brazos Swim Program.

Texas leads the nation in pool and spa drownings, according to the U.S. Product Safety Commission. Tarrant County ranks No. 2 in the state for child drownings, according to the coalition.

The YMCA’s goal is to give a life jacket to every child registered in those two water safety programs. The nonprofit is asking the public to consider making a cash donation or to donate a new child-size, Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest.

Each year, the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth teaches nearly 5,000 swim lessons to youth and adults. For more info on swim lessons or how to make a donation for the life vest drive, visit www.ymcafw.org.

–— Susan Schrock

Hip Pocket Theatre will perform original play

Hip Pocket Theatre continues its 38th season with Rose Nose Rhapsody opening July 11 for a four-weekend run at the Silver Creek Amphitheatre. The production is written and directed by Lake Simons, with original music composed and performed by John Dyer.

Performances are July 11 through Aug. 3, Fridays through Sundays at 9 p.m. Gates open at 7 p.m. for The Backyard, featuring live music, catered barbecue, baked potatoes, snacks and drinks, all available for purchase.

Rose Nose Rhapsody toys with all that rises and falls in our lives when the end of the world is near. Emotions run wild, adventures ensue, and bonds run deep. The scenario is brought to life by a red-nosed ensemble of performers utilizing pantomime and clown.

Adult tickets are $20, with reduced rates for children, students, teachers, military members and seniors. A Hip Pass costs $100 and allows 10 adult admissions.

Lost Creek seeks history from residents

The residents of Lost Creek, a subdivision in far west Fort Worth, are compiling a history of their development. Originally Aldon Coffey’s farm, then later The Singin’ Hills Golf Course, the area was built around a country club and an 18-hole golf course in the late 1970s.

This group of homeowners is seeking people who may have played golf when it was Singin’ Hills or visited Dr. Coffey’s home and farm. Even early memories or photos of Lost Creek or its residents would be appreciated.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. in the Lake Worth Multi-Purpose Complex, 7001 Charbonneau Drive. The entrance to the meeting room is directly behind the Lake Worth Area Museum-Foster House.

A potluck dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome to come and hear McGown’s talk.

PARKER COUNTY

Boomin’ 4th expected to draw huge crowd

The Boomin’ 4th Independence Day extravaganza will again be hosted by the East Parker County Chamber of Commerce. The third annual celebration will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the Gene L. Voyles Park, 210 N. Lakeshore Drive in Hudson Oaks.

The family-fun event will feature a musical performance by Weatherford College student and recording artist Wynn Williams and his band the Hazers.

Arts and crafts booths, children’s activities, face-painting and fire safety tips from Parker County emergency officials will also be on hand.

Tarrant County has received the National Association of Counties 2014 Achievement Award, in the category of information technology, for its West Nile virus mapping tool.

The award program recognizes innovative county government programs that modernize county government and increase services to county residents.

Tarrant County Information Technology Department’s GIS team collaborated with Tarrant County Public Health to develop the application during the record-breaking West Nile virus season of 2012.

The first phase involved the development of an internal mapping site where staff could search for positive and negative mosquito traps and positive human cases. Search criteria included date range, buffer distance, ZIP code and city.

The second phase involved the development of a public site. Visitors can download statistical information based on demographics, see current and projected aerial and ground spray areas and read public announcements.

Last year, the association recognized Tarrant County as one of the top 10 digital counties with a population of 500,000 or more.